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Forty Years of Making Waves Leads to Award For ExcellenceCongressman Nick Lampson, UH affiliate present award to Houston company

January 7, 2008-Houston-

U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson will present the Excellence in Manufacturing Award to Houston-based National Coupling Co. Inc. in a public ceremony to be held on Tuesday, Jan. 8. The award is being given on behalf of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), an affiliate of the University of Houston's College of Technology, in honor of the company's commitment to excelling as a manufacturer in the subsea oil and gas industry.

TMAC is a nonprofit organization that consists of a statewide network of public and private partnerships, which work together to provide hands-on technical assistance to manufacturers, including production planning and control, company assessments, development of e-Enterprise capabilities, training and consulting for lean enterprise, environmental health and safety, and quality management systems.

Recently introduced, specialty subsea valve products and a revolutionary subsea chemical injection system design pushed National Coupling's annual sales from $5 million in 1999 to $26 million in 2007. Some of National Coupling's most notable accomplishments include reducing outsourcing by 90 percent and avoiding product increases since 1997 - despite the fluctuation in the American economy.

"National Coupling has evolved from a manufacturing company to a technology driven supplier to the subsea oil and gas industry by implementing lean manufacturing techniques, Six Sigma principles (a metric, methodology and management system for measuring defects and improving quality) and continuous improvement methodologies," said David Walker, the regional director for TMAC.

University of Houston College of Technology and the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center

About the Texas Manufacturing Assistance CenterThe Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) exists to enhance the competitive position of the state's manufacturing sector. TMAC's manufacturing professionals work with a wide range of industrial firms, delivering training, providing technical assistance and implementing best business practices. The particular emphasis is on the needs of small to mid-sized manufacturers. Focus areas include lean manufacturing and lean office principles, technology solutions, strategic management, quality systems, environment and safety.